Button loop



Feb. 9, 1932. b R J, HQDGE 1,844,`282

BUTTON LOOP Filed Jan. 8, l930 cured by a coupling means permitting a lim-1 Patentecl Feb. 9, 1932 natasa is'ra'res rare-Nr osete-a ROBERT J. HODGE, OF WEST HAVEN, C'NNECTICU'IJ',V ASSIGNQR TO THE .AMERICAN CONNECTICUI, A; COR-PORA'I'ION OF CON-..

BUCKLF- COMPANY, OF \VEST HAVEN,

NECTICUT terena BUTTON LOOP Application file January 8, 193 9. Serial ,o 419,431.

This invention relates to button loops and especially to loops made from a single piece of wire having at the base of the loop substantially abutting extremities relatively seited movement.

of a. tubular coupling and means preventing their Withdrawal.

The invention consists of the novel constructions, to be hereinafter described or claimed, for carrying out the above stated objeets and such other objects as may hereinafter appear.

The character of the invention may be best understood by reference to one illustrative device embodying the invention and illustrated by the several figures in the accompanying draivings of Which the Figure 1 is a front elevation of an improved button loop in normal condition; the Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof; the Figure 3 is a front elevation With the tubular coupling illustrated in cross-section and the loop in an expanded condition; the Figure 4: is an enlarged crosssectional face view of the tubular coupling; the Figure 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of the tubular coupling; and the Figure 6 is a front elevation of a button loop of Which the tubular coupling is illustrated in cross-section and in the process of assembly upon the loop extremities; the Figure 7 being a perspective view of modified sheetI metal construction of the tubular coupling in inverted position.

The device, as illustrated by the Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, of the drawings, is a button loop for connecting a suspended strap to a button provided by a garment to be thereby supported, the button loop comprising a suspension loop 1, a. button receiving loop 2, and a button retaining loop 3, the loops being associated in axial alignment. The button loop is preferably formed of a single pece of resili'ent Wire, a middle portion of Which is bentto form an elongated suspension loop 1 having the horizontal bar 4, the remaining portions of the Wire being co-operatngly bent to form the loops 2 and 3 having the intermediate contracted portion 5. The Wire end portions are provided With aligned portions 6 parallel With the bar 4, and also the arcuate portions 7 ofv which the extremties are laterally provided 'With enlargements, each providing a key 8 eX-' tending away from butl in the plane of the button loop. AThe tubular coupling is preferably made Vof the seamless tubing 9 of substantially elliptical cross-section, both ends of the tubing 1 remaining open. A depressionV or cutis centrallyprovided in a Wall of the short diameter of the tubing 1 to provide the seat 10 for the shank-of a button, and the opposite Wall is provided With a longitudinal key-slot 11. In the formation of the associated loops'Q and 3 the contracted portion is left incomplete inthe process of manufacture, as illustrated by vthe Figure 6, so that the portions 6 are out of alignment and not parallel With the bar 4. The Wire ends are then` inserted into the opposite open ends of the tubing 1 so that the keys 8`may enter the key-slot 11; The forining operation of the associated loops 2 land 3 is then completed to notonly further contractthe portion 5 but to also further form the should-ersV 12, illustrated in full line by. the Figure 6, to assume a more acute angle as illustrated in dotted line by the same figure, the completing operation lifting the portions 6 into relative alignment and in substantially parallel engagement with the inner Wall surface of the tubing 1 diametrically opposte the key-slot 11 Within which the keys 8 are s thereby secured against dislodgment therefrom in the'sliding enga-gement of the Wire end portions Within the tubular coupling,

their relative movement being limited by the length of the slot 11.

In operation, the shank 13 of a button' within the receiving loop 2, as illustrated by the Figure 1, may be urged throughthe contracted portion 5, the passage of the shank 2 i nee-Lesa therethrough 'laterally expanding the b utton loop from its normal condition immediately restored by the resiliency of the wire as the With overlapping portions 14 and 15 both of Which may be provided With a key-slot llA, the slot of one overlapping portion registerincr With the slot of the other portion. A tubular coupling thus made from sheetmetal may be assembled upon a completely formed button loop, of the structure hereinbefore described, by being folded over the aligned portions 6 of the Wire end portions of the button loop. V I I I claim V 1. A button loop 'comprising a suspension loop provided With a pair of depending spring arms having a contracted throat portion, the armsV being divergent beyond the contracted portion and the arms extremities being bent into relative alignment, one With the other, each arm extremity having an out- Wardly bent arcuate terminal having an enlargement providing an outwardly extending key element, and a tubular coupling having open ends to receive the said extremities including the arcuate terminals, the wall of the couplng having a longitudinally ex-r tending key-slot to receive the key elements permanently retained Within the slot.

2. A method of assembling and locking relatively aligned portions of a button loop Within a tubular coupling having open ends and a longitudinal slot, of which said portions are provided with bent extremities having key elements, for limited movement Within the Vtubular eoupling, the method including the insertion Within said'open ends of said portions out of'said alignment and the forming of said portions into said alignment While `thus inserted, the key elements thereby becoming inserted yand locked within said slot.

3. A method of assembling and looking relatively aligned portions of a button loop Within a tubularf coupling having open ends and a longitudinal slot, of Which'said portions are provided with bent eXtremities having key elements, f-or limited movement Within the tubular coupling, the method including the partial forming of a throat section of said loop and the insertion, within said open ends, of said portions out of said alignment and the complete forming of said throat section While said portions are thus inserted, Whereby the said portions are brought into said alignment and the key elements thereby becoming inserted and locked within said slot.

ROBERT J. HODGE. 

